Shageenth Sandrakumar

PHY 108 Lab

M9: Experiment Lab Report

VI (1): In this experiment, we try to record and study two examples of simple harmonic motion
(the oscillating spring and a pendulum). We first recorded and studied the spring oscillations. We
did this by measuring the number of oscillations the spring made in the matter of 60 seconds,
using an electric sensor. We did three trials for various amounts of masses and recorded the
results below.
m (g)
m+mH (g)
50
100
100
150
150
200
200
250
250
300

C1
C2
C3
Average C
N
T (s)
T^2 (s^2)
147
146
148
147
73 0.821918 0.67554888
128
127
127 127.3333333 63.16667 0.949868 0.90224936
117
117
118 117.3333333 58.16667 1.031519 1.06403067
107
107
107
107
53 1.132075 1.28159487
100
99
100 99.66666667 49.33333 1.216216 1.47918188

We then measured the damping of our spring oscillating system. We allowed the spring to keep
oscillating for a long period of time. We then record the intervals of time the spring has
oscillated within the long period of time. We recorded our results as follows.
t(s)

&t(s)
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300

0.038
0.0426
0.0519
0.0556
0.065
0.0807
0.0996
0.2991
0.2725
0.2559

V
33.68421
30.04695
24.66281
23.02158
19.69231
15.86121
12.85141
4.279505
4.697248
5.001954

ln(V)
3.517029
3.402761
3.205297
3.136432
2.980228
2.763877
2.553453
1.453837
1.546977
1.609829

Next we try to determine the period of a pendulum. We did this by recording the number of
times the pendulum has swung in the matter of seconds. We recorded three different trials for
various different lengths we set the pendulum to swing.
l' (cm)

l (cm)

C1

C2

C3

30

32.2

102

102

103

40.5

42.7

89

90

89

45
51

47.2
53.2

85
81

86
82

85
80

55
60

57.2
62.2

79
76

78
75

78
77

Average C
N
T
T^2
102.333333 50.6666 1.18421 1.4023545
3
7
1
7
89.3333333 44.1666 1.35849 1.8454966
3
7
1
2
85.3333333 42.1666 1.42292 2.0247152
3
7
5
7
81
40
1.5
2.25
78.3333333 38.6666 1.55172
3
7
4 2.4078478
76
37.5
1.6
2.56

VI (3): Plotting the data Table in V-3 with T2 with respect to MT (m+mH), we get the following
graph

Time Squared vs. Total mass

Time Squared (seconds^2)

1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Mass (grams)

y = 0.004x + 0.2859

By using Excel I was able to calculate the slope and its uncertainty s.
Slope, S (s2/g)
S ( s2/g )

0.003973
0.0001

Intercept, b ( s2)
b ( s2)

0.285877
0.021267

We are looking for the springs constant, since we are given the formula k =
k=

9936.68 (g/s2)

To find k, We can use this formula, z = x

so k = S

)=

where z = k and x = S,

Plugging in S = 0.003973 and S = 0.0001, we get k =

S = (0.00397 0.0001) (s2/g)
b = (0.286 0.02) ( s2)
k = (9937 300) (g/s2)

*(0.0001) -250.105 (g/s2)

VI (4): Using our value we obtained for k, b, and m, the mass of the spring (which we
measured to be 175g), we can now find , using the formula =
So =

0.411171

Using formula z =

where z = , x = b, and y = k, we get

0.0305976. So = 0.411 0.03

According to the intro, 0.3333333 0.40528473, our results do not fit in the range, which
means somewhere in our experimentation, we have gone wrong or one of our group members
might have miscalculated a result.

VI (5): Plotting the data Table in V-5 with T2 with respect to l (length of pendulum) we get the
following graph

Time squared vs. Length

Time squared (s^2)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

20

y = 0.0389x + 0.2589

30

40

50

60

70

Length (cm)

By using Excel I was able to calculate the slope and its uncertainty s.
Slope, S (s2/cm)
S ( s2/cm )

0.038853
0.000949

0.258865
0.045511

Intercept, b ( s2)
b ( s2)

We are looking for the experimental acceleration due to gravity. Since we are given the formula
g=

.g=

1016.10 (cm/s2)

To find g, we can use this formula, z = x

=

S. Plugging in S and S, we get g =

where z = g and x = S, so g = S

*(0.000949) -24.8186 (cm/s2)

S = (0.00389 0.0009) (s2/cm)

b = (0.259 0.05) ( s2)
g = (1016 20) (cm/s2)

The value for g does not fit into our experimental data, once again my group has failed to
calculate the right measurements. Our values are probably off due to human errors (For not
reading the time correctly and etc.)

VI (7): Plotting the data Table in V-4 with ln(v) with respect to time (length of pendulum) we

Natural Logrithm of Max Speed

get the following graph

Natural Logrithm of Max Speed vs.

Time
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Time (seconds)
y = -0.0083x + 3.9796

By using Excel I was able to calculate the slope and its uncertainty s.
-0.00826
0.001046

Slope, S (1/s)
S (1/s)

3.979568
0.194658

Intercept, b
b

We are looking for the experimental acceleration due to gravity. Since we are given the formula
= | |. g =

121 (s)

To find , We can use this formula, z = x

=

S. Plugging in S and S, we get =

Using the formula, Q =

where z = and x = | |, so g = S

( )

| | | |

*(0.001046) -15.3 (s)

, we can calculate Q by plugging in the values for and T(this is time

period of experiment- 30 seconds).

So Q =

12.7

Since T is constant, To find Q, We can use this formula, z = x

Q =

( ) =( ). Plugging in T nd , we get Q =

where z = Q and x = , so

*(-15.3) -1.605

S = (-0.00826 0.001) (1/s)

b = (3.98 0.2)
= (121 20) (s)
Q = (12.7 2)